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August 6, 2024
ITEM TITLE
Mutual Aid Reimbursement: Update the Approval of Terms and Conditions for Fire Department Response Away From Their Official Duty Station and Assigned to an Emergency Incident Report Number: 24-0216
Location: No specific geographic location
Department: Fire
G.C. § 84308: No
Environmental Notice : The activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) no environmental review is required.
Recommended Action
Adopt a resolution updating and approving the terms and conditions for Fire Department response away from their official duty station and assigned to an emergency incident.
SUMMARY
The Fire Department participates in the California Fire Assistance Agreement (CFAA) to provide staff and equipment resources on a reimbursement basis to other agencies that hav e become overwhelmed by an emergency response. This mutual aid agreement is managed and administered by the California Office of Emergency Service (CAL OES). To remain in good standing in the CFAA, CAL OES requires current memorandum of understandings (MOUs ) and/or governing board resolutions to be submitted to them when changes are made by participating agencies.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Director of Development Services has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines, the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is required.
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BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
Not applicable.
DISCUSSION
On July 11, 2023 , the Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-086, approving portal-to-portal compensation and the ability for the City to be reimbursed by the State of California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) or the agency requesting mutual aid. Portal-to-portal compensation is calculated from when the expense is incurred, i.e., the moment staff and/or equipment resources are dispatched from their home base until they return to their home base.
It is important to be a participant in the California Fire Assistance Agreement (CFAA) because when aid is provided, participants are reimbursed for all costs associated with the mutual aid assignment. This includes personnel expenses for Chula Vista Fire Department response personnel on the mutual aid assignment, as well as the cost to backfill behind them while deployed on the mutual aid assignment. Portal-to-portal also applies to apparatus and equipment which have associated use fees. Portal -to-portal compensation is the current practice used by the Chula Vista Fire Department in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Chula Vista and Local 2180 International Association of Firefighters (IAFF). Chula Vista Fire Department response personnel compensated portal-to-portal includes the Fire Chief, Deputy Fire Chief, Fire Division Chief, Fire Battalion Chief, Fire Captain, Fire Engineer, Firefighter/Paramedic, Firefighter, Fuels Module Crewmember, Emergency Medical Technician (Non - Safety), Paramedic (Non-Safety), and Fire Prevention/Investigation and Fire Mechanic/Equipment Mechanic personnel.
Cal OES accepted Resolution No. 2023-086 as approved on July 11, 2023. This updated resolution will add Fuels Module Crewmembers as approved response personnel in the event they are assigned to a reimbursable emergency incident and compensate them portal-to-portal while on a mutual aid assignment under the CFAA.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is not site-specific and consequently, the real property holdings of the City Council members do not create a disqualifying real property-related financial conflict of interest under the Political Reform Act (Cal. Gov't Code § 87100, et seq.).
Staff is not independently aware, and has not been informed by any City Council member, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision-maker conflict of interest in this matter.
CURRENT-YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
There is no current-year fiscal impact outside of the Fire Department’s approved budget as funds expended for Fire Department response away from their official duty station and assigned to an emergency incident are reimbursed back to the City.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
There is no ongoing fiscal impact outside of the Fire Department’s typical participation within the CFAA and the Cal OES mutual aid system.
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ATTACHMENTS
None.
Staff Contact: Harry Muns, Fire Chief